Posts Tagged ‘meditation’

The smell of fresh coffee beans in the grinder. A hint of sunshine above the treetops. My favorite chair and a quiet house. Weekend mornings are reserved for nurturing my creative soul. Meditation gives way to reading and writing. Sometimes, I relax in my chair and just be. Cozy in my favorite pajamas; a steaming cup of coffee under my nose, and life is as it is meant to be – perfect.

Outside my window, birds are twittering, butterflies enjoy the breakfast bar at bright red flowers, and the cat chatters at the lizards who scurry along the window screen; her hunting instincts longing to capture the prize. I’m just happy there is a window between them or I would be getting lizard lip kisses from her later.

While early mornings on weekdays begin at 5 or 5:30 am, early on the weekend is usually just before sunrise rather than a specific time. If left to it’s natural rhythms, the body knows the brink of sunrise. Weekdays I need an artificial sunrise; on weekends, the body rules.

The benefits of early rising abound – here are my gold stars:

Going to bed earlier – your body needs sleep and the only way to be an early riser is to be an early go to sleeper. Most of us really and truly need 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. I know, this is nearly impossible for most of us. Sleep research shows that the body uses the hours before midnight for healing and repair. I’ve found, though, that this one change to go to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 has had a measurable positive effect on my overall health and well-being.

Alone time – even the most gregarious person needs time alone. Meditate, de-stress, reflect, create – each of us needs time for personal growth and creative pursuits. When my daughters were small, early morning was my only option. At this stage in my life, I have more options for alone time, but still prefer early morning.

Time for breakfast – no one argues the benefit of a healthy breakfast. I used to eat grab and go breakfast at my desk. Breakfast was usually interrupted by the first crisis of the day – not great for enjoyment nor digestion. Now I enjoy a healthy breakfast at home as part of my weekday morning routine and start my workday physically and mentally ready for whatever the crisis du jour may be.

Punctuality – even just an extra five minutes in the morning can make the difference between running late and getting to where you need to be on time. Have you ever noticed that when you’re running late every traffic light turns red just as you get there or you end up behind the school bus that makes ten stops? When you leave just a few minutes early, that little time cushion changes your entire mind-set. Instead of stressed and hurried vibrations, you tune into calm confidence that you will get there on time – and you usually do.

A walk at sunrise– or any other form of exercise outdoors. Some mornings are just spectacular. Besides contributing to my body’s health, this practice adds to my mental, emotional, and creative well-being. Whether a bright full moon illuminates transition of midnight blue sky into fringes of daylight, or rays of sunshine pierce clouds in shades of coral, pink, and orange; every morning is unique. The trick is to remain present – allow the thoughts and constant dialogue in your head to keep moving right out on out. Tune in to your heart and emotions to feel and experience the flow of being and belonging to the world. Let nature remind you of the sacredness of life.

I’m sure there are many other benefits from early rising – these are some that bring me to flow and give me a better chance at a glorious day. Now if I could just find some secrets to flow at work…